PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
Indigenes of Onuebum Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have raised alarm over what they describe as “fake award and execution of incomplete contracts that dot the community.”
Port Harcourt Mundial gathered that trouble started between 2012 and 2014 when the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was reported to have commenced a contract for shoreline protection, being an erosion devastated area, land reclamation and construction of no fewer than three landing jetties in the riverine community.
Speaking to newsmen, the chairman, council of chiefs, High Chief Jubilee Moses, alleged that upon the contracts being abandoned by the NDDC contracting firm (name withheld), the community, through a delegation sent sometime in early March 2020 to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, were informed by the management that the commission had not seen any document bearing the names of such contract awarded to the community.
He said the sudden disappearance of the contractual documents for abandoned project may not be unconnected with attempts by “retrogressive elements in the community to beat investigation on the ongoing forensic audit of the funds and contracts awarded but abandoned by NDDC.
“Up till now, as a community we have not known the cost of the contract which has turned out to be fake. So in March 2020 we were in NDDC’s office to plead and remind them of the need to complete these projects, but surprisingly we were informed that there were no documents containing the award of such contracts in this community by the interventionist agency.
“If you go round this community you will see other abandoned NDDC’s projects: a mini stadium, one kilometer road where only about 75 meters have been executed, dysfunctional solar powered lights etc.
“For these projects we inform you authoritatively that the commission told us that they don’t have and cannot find any document bearing the award of such contract in Onuebum. Quote me anywhere.
“There was even a time we had to also meet the contractor for the abandoned project and l tell you we felt even sorry for him. The same thing NDDC told us they can’t find papers for any contract, so even the contractor’s payment is hanging in the NDDC.
“We are beginning to suspect that may be the NDDC have burnt off the papers for this contract. The Audit report shouldn’t be treated with bias,” he said.
